MLS new boys Los Angeles FC (LAFC) have added Ghana forward Latif Blessing to their roster ahead of their debut season.
The 20-year-old who enjoyed a successful first season with Sporting Kansas City, was among five selected players by the LAFC in the Major League Soccer expansion draft on Tuesday. The others include Seattle goalkeeper Tyler Miller, San Jose forward Marco Urena, Columbus left back Jukka Raitala and Toronto defender Raheem Edwards.
LAFC general manager John Thorrington is uncertain how many of the five players will be with the club when it begins play as MLS’ 23rd franchise in March.
Should the former Ghana Premier League goalking remain with the side for the 2018 MLS, he will be playing alongside former Arsenal striker Carlos Vela who was recently signed from Real Sociedad as well as Egypt right back Omar Gaber.
Los Angeles FC will be coached in its debut season by former U.S. national team head coach and Swansea manager Bob Bradley.
LAFC were permitted to select players who were left unprotected by the existing 20 MLS teams. Clubs were allowed to protect 11 players, with those on Generation Adidas and off-budget homegrown players exempt from the draft.
Black Stars defender Jonathan Mensah fell into the category of unprotected players by his club Colombus Crew but was overlooked by Bradley. Patrick Nyarko, Lloyd Sam and Chris Odoi-Atsem, all of DC United were other Ghanaian players exposed to being plucked away in the expansion draft.
Latif Blessing scored three goals and added an assist in 25 games in his debut season in the league.
